Are you looking to explore the history of Yangon through the ages? There are a number of historical destinations in Yangon including the time-honored buildings, monuments, palaces, and parks where you can learn about the glorious past of Yangon. The presence of these historical sites and museums will take you on a walk through Yangon ‘s rich history.
If you are willing to have an in-depth historical information about Yangon, we recommend that you take a wonderful guided tour to cover the major historical attractions. Also, check the opening and closing time for each so that you can organize your time. Make sure that you go through the complete list of historical places in Yangon for a great trip!
Top Historical Places in Yangon
Let's witness the history of Yangon with these top historical places - monuments and landmarks:
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Shwedagon Pagoda
(683 Votes)
Every year, a lot of tourists flock to Yangon to see its splendid ancient pagodas only. Amongst the others, Shwedagon Pagoda is the better known one and invites a lot of tourists owing to its enchanting beauty. Called by local people as Shwedagon Zedi Daw The, this pagoda is perched atop the hill and looks astonishing with its 99 meters high. In fact, its golden roof is remains prominent in any...Read more -
Taukkyan War Cemetery
(477 Votes)
As the name suggests, the Taukkyan War Cemetery is dedicated to the Allied soldiers under the British Commonwealth who lost their lives in Burma during the Second World War. This cemetery is home to the graves of at least 6,374 soldiers along with memorial pillars. On the Rangoon Memorial, the names of over 27000 soldiers have been written who fought under the Commonwealth. There is also a sect...Read more -
Saint Mary's Cathedral
(610 Votes)
Located on Bo Aung Kyaw Street in Botahtaung Township, Yangon, the Saint Mary’s Cathedral is an exquisite place of spirituality to visit. The cathedral looks beautiful with its red brick exterior that also exhibits spires and a bell tower. This is the largest church in Burma that was designed by Dutch architect Joseph Cuypers, son of Pierre Cuypers. Having suffered adverse ...Read more -
Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue
(242 Votes)
This is Myanmar’s only Jewish house of worship that reminds its onlookers of the once thriving Jewish community who lived in Yangon in the initial part of 20th century. This synagogue was constructed in the 1890s to serve the 2,500 Jews, who migrated to Yangon from the Middle East and became an integral part of the city. However, when Japan invaded Burma during World War II, they were for...Read more -
Nga Htat Gyi Buddha Temple
(485 Votes)
The Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda is a lovely temple that’s huge and attracts ample of tourists each year. Of course it isn’t the biggest in Yangon, however, the peace and calm at the holy shrine makes the place worth visiting. The temple showcases a huge statue of Buddha which is its highlight as well. The atmosphere of the shrine is pleasant and the architecture and interiors are indeed imp...Read more -
More in the isolated area of Yangon, the Holy Trinity Cathedral is quite a charm that is often missed by tourists. The peaceful holy shrine has elegant architecture and impressive interiors. It is an ideal spot to observe silence and pray. There are weddings that are blessed here too. If you need to get away from the busy city life and spend some time in peace, this oasis of calm and tranquilli...Read more -
The Tomb of Bahadur Shah Zafar is the final resting place of the Indian king who belonged to the 18th century. The tomb today is used as a Sufi Islamic place of worship. The place is a good dig through history revising the time of the Mughals when they ruled India. Bahadur Shah was imprisoned for over a year by the British and secretly buried in his prison cell itself to avoid revolt and contro...Read more -
Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese social democratic stateswoman and the president of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy party. This Nobel Peace Prize Laureate was put under house arrest at this house on and off since 1989 and was released in 2010 due to international pressure. While it is not possible to enter the house, Aung San Suu Kyi’s allure is such that visitors are tempted t...Read more -
Swal Daw Pagoda
(251 Votes)
A relatively new place of worship in Yangon, the Swe Taw Myat Pagoda is where a sacred Buddha tooth relic is enshrined. The actual tooth was brought to Myanmar from China in the year 1994 along with two ivory copies. One of the copies is enshrined here. Boasting of stunning architecture and intricate designs, the Swe Taw Myat Pagoda (also known as the Buddha tooth relic pagoda) is a must visit ...Read more -
Armenian Church Of St. John The Baptist
(259 Votes)
Consecrated in the year 1863, the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. John is the oldest church still standing in Yangon. A quaint one, the historical church has a serene atmosphere and is a must visit for people in search of an off the beaten path place in Yangon. It is also a must visit for people who want to understand the Armenian history and culture present in this Myanmar city. -
A gigantic, enormous statue of Buddha seated overlooking the city; this is an undeniably beautiful landmark of Yangon. Carved out of a single piece of marble found near Mandalay in 1999, this statue was transported to the hill top with utmost and care making it extra special for Myanmar! Encased in glass, the detailing of the statue is marvellous and reflects the painstaking efforts taken by th...Read more -
A former home of United Nations Secretary General U Thant, this heritage building is owned and operated by the Yangon Government and aims to preserve the life of General U Thant through memorabilia dedicated to the great general. U Thant was the pioneer in decolonization, global poverty, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the 1965 India- Pakistan War, and the Six Day War and was also a ...Read more